The Husband Experience by Maya Jean

TITLE: ⟫ The Husband Experience

AUTHOR: ⟫ Maya Jean

RATING: ⟫ /5

SERIES: ⟫ Sweet Southern #1

BLURB: ⟫ Elijah

Being a fake boyfriend is usually pretty easy. My part time job slots perfectly into my schedule as I pursue my PhD. But when the agency sends me on a week-long vacation to play husband … I don’t expect the experience to feel the opposite of fake. Colby Smith is everything I never knew I needed. He’s sweet, he even blushes, but in the bedroom, he calls all the shots. This experience is supposed to be for him, but as time goes on, I think it’s starting to be real for me.

Colby

After losing my husband, my cousin recommended I reach out to The Boyfriend Experience to get back in the saddle, so to speak. I asked for a husband for a week and they sure delivered. Elijah Ruiz is wild, in a way that shakes my world to the core. But after a week of tender touches, of breathtaking smiles, I start to wonder if it’s really all an act. Can we make this something real after only a week of playing pretend?

The Husband Experience is the 36k novella that starts the Sweet Southern series. It features a professional fake boyfriend, a ready for love again widower, an age gap, fake husbands for a week by the beach, lots of swoon, emotional steam, and just a sprinkle of kink.

REVIEW: ⟫ Currently reading – review to follow. I received an ARC from GRR.

Under Your Skin by Lee McCormick

TITLE: ⟫ Under Your Skin

AUTHOR: ⟫ Lee McCormick

RATING: ⟫ /5

BLURB: ⟫ You’re the only one who can get under my skin.

Levi

Trapped in nightmares from my past, the only comfort I find is in gifts from the man who killed my mother’s killer—presents wrapped in a body bag and delivered to the morgue for me to examine.

From the first time I saw his mark, I knew I had to keep my Killer safe, had to keep his work a secret for me and me alone. Every body is a love letter, and I’m the only one who can read them.

Jonah

When I accidentally leave evidence behind during a kill, I have to go to the morgue to rectify my mistake. I didn’t expect to find a young mortician admiring my work.

Relishing in it. Studying it.

Covering it up.

I have no idea why someone would want to hide my crimes, but I’m determined to find out. What I discover is a man named Levi—a man obsessed with the idea of who he thinks I am.

A man who threatens to change my entire world.

~~~

Under Your Skin is a dark romance set in a world where a corrupt town lets a serial killer walk free, and a young mortician is determined to make sure it stays that way. Expect high heat, intense emotions, and two men who find their own way to define what love really means.

REVIEW: ⟫ Currently reading – review to follow. I received an ARC from GRR.

Cross My Heart by Darcy Archer

TITLE: ⟫ Cross My Heart

AUTHOR: ⟫ Darcy Archer

RATING: ⟫ /5

BLURB: ⟫ When a tackle stopped NFL superstar Tyler Fantana’s heart, millions of fans watched their MVP die on camera. Now America’s Tightest End has headed home to put his broken pieces back together. Tyler knows returning to football could kill him, so keeping his rehab on track seems impossible—until he starts training with a familiar guy-next-door who knocks his jock off.

Josh Ayres has harbored a secret crush on Tyler since high school. Fifteen years later, Josh has blossomed from a quiet nerd into bona fide beefcake, coaching the team for his alma mater. Helping Tyler get back in the game might become the second chance he never expected… if he can work up the courage to confess his feelings to the bad boy he never stopped loving.

Sparks fly as Tyler and Josh join forces to save the school library, battling book bans, malicious gossip, and media pressure. What happens if infatuation turns into something that feels like forever?

Love is a contact sport.

REVIEW: ⟫ Currently reading – review to follow. I received an ARC from the author.

In His Corner by H.L. Day

TITLE: ⟫ In His Corner

AUTHOR: ⟫ H.L Day

RATING: ⟫ /5

BLURB: ⟫ Hayden Quinn’s worked his ass off to turn his restaurant into the thriving business it is today. Too hard to risk it all by letting an ex-con through his door. Yet, there Levi is. Six feet of attitude. Six feet of pure temptation.

No one warned Levi that getting out of prison would only be the start of his problems. He doesn’t need a boss who looks down his nose at him. Except behind that, there’s a heat. A heat that Levi can’t help responding to.

Together they burn hot, forging something that could be more than just lust. When Levi’s past comes knocking though, has he really got someone in his corner, or is he just as alone as ever?

In His Corner is a steamy hurt/comfort MM romance featuring a hot-tempered chef who needs his life shaking up a bit and a wounded character who might have a chip on his shoulder a mile wide, but deep down just wants someone to love him. When their fragile connection is put to the test, will their relationship endure, or will everything they’ve built crumble away to nothing?

REVIEW: ⟫ This was so much more than I was expecting. I loved the male leads in this story – both Hayden and Levi gave the impression of being completely closed off – from friendship, let alone falling in love But the chemistry between the two of them was undeniable from the very beginning. Things got steamy very quickly and the almost ‘hate sex’ aspect of things was very, very well done. But where this book worked so well for me was after the hate sex. Levi questioning the way things were between them and then becoming ill was a turning point I wasn’t expecting and definitely enjoyed. Seeing such a caring side to Hayden was a real pleasure and I loved how he looked after Levi.

The blast from the past was very well done, especially because it didn’t rely on David being attracted to Levi – he was very much the type of arrogant man who couldn’t accept that Levi wasn’t prepared to go back to the life he had had before, and dragging Levi back into things against his will was such a rotten (but plausible) thing to do. Hayden acquitted himself well – special mention to his brother – and the way things were wrapped up made me give a satisfied sigh. This reminded me very much of the Strays series by Garrett Leigh in a good way. Very much enjoyed and will look for more by this author.

I received an ARC from GRR.

On Guard by J.R. Gray & Andi Jaxon (New York Gods)

TITLE: ⟫ On Guard

AUTHOR: ⟫ J.R. Gray & Andi Jaxon

SERIES: ⟫ New York Gods

RATING: ⟫ /5

BLURB: ⟫ Selling my virginity wasn’t how I saw my first week of college going.

But after my parents cut me off, an offer from a gorgeous rich stranger doesn’t sound so bad.

It’s only twenty-four hours and I’ll never have to see him again.

Wrong.

Much to my horror, the stranger is Oliver Godfrey, the captain of my fencing team. And as if that isn’t bad enough, his parents own half the city.

There is no escape from him or the way he makes me feel.

He’s everything I don’t want.

And everything I need.

A playboy like him shouldn’t look at me twice, so why is he ruining my life?

But what Oliver wants, Oliver gets, and he wants me.

He’s arrogant, possessive, and infuriatingly obsessed with me.

This can’t work.

His parents want him to marry an heiress so I can’t keep him.

All I can have is stolen moments hidden in the dark.

He's going to break my heart and I'm going to let him.

REVIEW: ⟫ Currently reading – review to follow.

Work: Strictly Professional by Jesse H Reign (Bad Decisions Book #2)

TITLE: ⟫ Work: Strictly Professional

AUTHOR: ⟫ Jesse H Reign

SERIES: ⟫ Bad Decisions Book #2

RATING: ⟫ 5/5

BLURB: ⟫ “Not to worry, I’ll compensate you for your time and your… skill.”

My boss is a walking red flag. He’s bolshy and rude. Impossible to please. A big, broody man with dark eyes that carry an unmistakable message – I am not manageable. Seriously, he’s the worst. If it’s not bad enough that he’s a nightmare in the office, he’s all but ordering me to be his date to his son’s wedding. He says it’s called ‘winning a divorce.’ I try telling him that’s not a real thing, but it falls on deaf ears. Not only that, he appears to be in the throes of a major personal awakening and is determined that I’m the man to guide him through it. I’m all for going above and beyond at work, but the man’s demands are becoming downright indecent. See what I mean? Red flags galore. So many red flags I can’t count them all. I might as well be playing a game of red flag bingo at this point. Just my luck, when it comes to Derek MacAvoy, I see a red flag…and instantly want to date it.

REVIEW: ⟫ There’s so much about this story that shouldn’t work – mainly all of the red flags that Wyn notes about Derek when he first meets him. And yet, this was a five star read for me because of Jesse H Reign’s writing style! I laughed so hard with so many of the things that happened – from Derek’s complete and utter cockiness regarding his ‘skills’ (well earned by the way), to how stupendous Wyn was at spending Derek’s money and making it worth while, to the sex scenes – like, phew, these two were hot together!

It was lovely to have the references to previous characters and I really enjoyed just watching Wyn at work – he was absolutely epic and reminded me so much of my working days when you had to manage the boss to ensure optimal output whilst still ensuring they remained somewhat human! The red flags were flying but Wyn managed to turn them all at least a darker shade of green by the end of the book.

A fun, sexy read that put a smile on my face and made me happy indeed!

Beautifully Fractured by Michele Lenard (Front Range University #1)

TITLE: ⟫ Beautifully Fractured

AUTHOR: ⟫ Michele Lenard

SERIES: ⟫ Front Range University #1

RATING: ⟫ 5/5

BLURB: ⟫ Ever have someone get you so well it’s like looking in a mirror?

Cruz

Starting over is not what I had planned.

Those stories about magically becoming best friends with the person assigned to live with you… Yeah, that won’t be me. I already have a best friend. Even if I wanted a new one, Liam wouldn’t be it. He’s permanently grouchy, carrying a negative energy I don’t need since I’m finally in a good place. But I’ve never been good at ignoring when people need help, so I paste on a smile and play nice.

Predictably, Liam isn’t much of a talker, but after an unexpected accident he needs my help in other ways. Ways that offer me answers about myself. Ways that raise new questions about the football dreams I’ve been chasing since I was a kid. Ways that make me relive the past I want to ignore.

To say I’m confused is an understatement, but there’s one thing I know for certain…Liam is either the key to one door or the bolt that could prevent another from ever opening. And I have to choose which I want him to be.

Liam

Starting over is exactly what I need.

I can’t get any more invisible than I’ve been for the past few years, and I figure rooming with another person means at least one human on the planet can’t ignore me. Unfortunately, that human is Adonis personified, and not gay, so it’s looking like my invisibility streak might continue.

Then I suffer a minor accident, and Cruz’s hero complex comes out in full force. I should be grateful to have someone to open my door and carry my books, but when you pair his selfless personality with that body… My mind starts to blur the roommate line, which makes his blur the line of not being gay.

My heart is already battered, and I doubt it can take rejection from the one person who broke down all the walls I’d built around it. That doesn’t mean I won’t try to give it to him anyway.

**Beautifully Fractured is a high-heat MM romance with medium angst that features a grumpy/sunshine relationship, forced proximity, hurt/comfort situations and a bi-awakening. This is book one in a series of interconnected standalones. Though the main characters are athletes, this is not a sports romance. Rather, it's a romance that happens to feature people who play sports.

REVIEW: ⟫ This story was beautiful in so many different ways and I don’t think any review I write can do it justice. This book was my ‘treat’ – I’d been looking forward to it for some time, and I decided to settle down with a drink, a cat and a heated blanket. And oh my, did this book deliver.

Cruz is like the world’s happiest golden retriever of a person and it would be so easy to dismiss him as such a simple character. But as the story continues, we learn about the things that Cruz struggles with, the fears he’s hiding, the confusion about who he is and what he is – it’s handled in such a nuanced fashion, I was really impressed. And I loved him so much as a character – so matter of fact about things that would send most people into a tailspin, with a solidness to him that I appreciated more and more the further I read.

Liam broke my heart – over and over – but I was also incredibly impressed with how strong a character he was. With his history – with his family – it would have made the most sense in the world for him to shut down completely, allow himself to be utterly bitter and beyond even the grumpy trope. But instead, Liam allowed Cruz to see the person he was beneath the crusty exterior; made friends with people who by rights should have terrified him based on his history; opened himself to new friendships despite how badly friends had burned him in the past; and ultimately move past his family and the aftermath of the tragedy.

I absolutely adored the relationship between these two – I gotchu was a catchphrase that was made for the two of them, and they demonstrated it so many times over and over with how much grace they gave each other; how supportive they were; how much they understood the other person. I feel like I’m just spewing out words of praise without any substance but I don’t want to risk spoilers – this is a book that deserves people going into it without knowing what’s coming because then they get to enjoy as it all unfolds without warning, to have those ‘awwww’ moments as well as the ‘oh wow’ ones.

I think it’s really easy to tell that I truly adored this book – all I can say is that it’s one of the best ones of the year so far for me. A well deserved 5/5. I received an ARC from GRR.

Dad Next Door by Willow Dixon (Crimson Club #5)

TITLE: ⟫ Dad Next Door

AUTHOR: ⟫ Willow Dixon

SERIES: ⟫ Crimson Club #5

RATING: ⟫ 3.5/5

BLURB: ⟫ Moving into my first house is step one in starting my new life. Next is setting up my contracting business. I’m so focused on my future that a relationship is the last thing on my mind.

Then I meet Tristan, the single dad next door. He might be my total opposite, but we click in a way I’ve never experienced, and he quickly becomes one of my closest friends.

After attending a wedding as his fake date to make his ex, and his ex’s new boyfriend, jealous, I can’t deny that things between us have changed. I always thought I was straight, but being with Tristan doesn’t just feel good, it feels right.

Having a fling with my neighbor might be a recipe for disaster, but it could also be exactly what we both need to finally move on from our pasts.

Quinn and Tristan’s story is a friends-to-lovers, bi-awakening romance between a retired porn model who just moved into his first home, and a single dad trying to navigate life after divorce. Expect a fake relationship, an age gap, found family, all the feels, lots of spice, and tons of heat as these neighbors find out that sometimes opposites really do attract. It is the fifth novel in the exciting new Crimson Club series but can be read as a standalone.

REVIEW: ⟫ This was a sweet, slow-burn read, with a lovely relationship being built between Tris and Quinn. The two men are at different places in their lives: Tris is divorced with a young son and a bitter ex, whilst Quinn is making the transition from adult entertainment/influencer to becoming a contractor and I liked the way that this was reflected in their attitudes and behaviour. This wasn’t a case of one being swept off their feet by the other – this was a friendship that grew naturally into something bigger and better, and the way that they respected each other was so natural and strong.

I enjoyed the comeuppance of the ‘bad guy’; the numerous pets that Tris had, as well as the relationship with his son and his sister; the friendship that Quinn had with the other guys from the Crimson Club – it was a really well-rounded story, with a realness to it that can often get lost in the romance. The sex scenes were hot without being over-powering, and the epilogue was so lovely that it had me smiling so much! Definitely enjoyed reading and can recommend.

House of Cards by Garrett Leigh (Port Ewan Bay Book #1)

TITLE: ⟫ House of Cards

AUTHOR: ⟫ Garrett Leigh

SERIES: ⟫ Porth Ewan Bay #1

RATING: ⟫ 5/5

BLURB: ⟫ What's better than one broody tattoo artist? TWO, that's what. Hurt/comfort, friends-to-lovers, and forced proximity combine in this gorgeous second chance MM romance.

Calum Hardy’s life has unravelled. Reeling from the betrayal of a man he once loved, he boards a train heading south, with no real idea where he’s going except a world away from London.

Brix Lusmoore can hardly believe his eyes when he spots one of his oldest friends outside Truro station. He hasn’t seen Calum since he fled the capital himself four years ago, harbouring a life-changing secret. But despite the years of silence, their old bond remains, warm and true—and layered with simmering heat they’ve never forgotten.

Calum takes refuge with Brix and a job at his Porth Ewan tattoo shop. Bit by bit, he rebuilds his life, but both men carry the ghosts of the past, and it will take more than a rekindled friendship and the magic of the Cornish coast to chase them away.

*Previously published as part of the Porthkennack shared world series, these titles have been significantly reworked and re-edited, with strong links to the Rebel Kings MC universe*

REVIEW: ⟫ Oh my poor aching heart! When I saw that Garrett Leigh had released another story adjacent to the Rebel Kings, it was an instant click. And I thought I knew what to expect – the Rebel Kings stories have obliterated my heart more than once.

But then along came Calum and Brix and I truly knew heartbreak. Calum was such a gentle, beautiful soul that the beginning of this story brought out so much rage in my heart, I swear if Rob had been in front of me, I’d have skinned him alive. But fear not, Brix found Calum and offered him sanctuary.

The relationship between these two was so soft and easy, the trust rebuilding slowly, whilst the love between them was obvious to everyone but them. Brix has bricked himself behind a massive wall ever since his diagnosis, only letting people in so much before he hides again. He’s doing everything right to maintain his health but he’s not really living. Until Calum comes back into his life and he see someone he could want a future with. If only he wasn’t too scared to reach out for it.

Like pretty much every other Garrett Leigh book I’ve ever read, this one grabbed me by the heart and made it very difficult to care about anything else until I’d reached the conclusion. The characters – both new and those familiar to me from the other series – were fully fleshed, amusing, aggravating and people you could well imagine spending an evening with. But front and centre, Calum and Brix were absolutely spot on. I adored these two men and as we meandered our way to their happy end, I was grinning like a lunatic whilst wiping a tear from my eye. I’m seriously pleased that this is a new series and I cannot wait for Kim’s story. An obvious five star story for me.

I received an ARC from GRR.